Arizona Chickens

[Happy Novogens]

I've even had little toads start to hang out around the puddles or emerge from underground (too bad for the toad- they don't last long with the chickens)..

Those aren't the Sonoran Desert toads? I know they are poisonous (skin) for dogs and cats. Our neighbor's dog died after licking a Sonoran Desert toad.

 

[BlueBaby]

Those aren't the Sonoran Desert toads? I know they are poisonous (skin) for dogs and cats. Our neighbor's dog died after licking a Sonoran Desert toad.

I have those kind over here too. They like to come out at night especially during the monsoon. They need the water and moisture to lay their young. They will eat their weight in insect's every night, so they like to hang out under where the light's are at night because they know that the insects are attracted to the light. Just keep them away from where your pet's or chickens are. The chicken's should be roosting at night anyway's, so they would be up off the ground.

 

[CaroleW]

Those aren't the Sonoran Desert toads? I know they are poisonous (skin) for dogs and cats. Our neighbor's dog died after licking a Sonoran Desert toad.

IDK if its the SD toad but I kinda doubt it. We are dry but maybe above the elevation of most large SD cacti except prickly pear and some yucca and jumping cholla. I'll have to look into that. I know hens have eaten at least one with no ill effects.

 

[Happy Novogens]

I have those kind over here too. They like to come out at night especially during the monsoon. They need the water and moisture to lay their young. They will eat their weight in insect's every night, so they like to hang out under where the light's are at night because they know that the insects are attracted to the light. Just keep them away from where your pet's or chickens are. The chicken's should be roosting at night anyway's, so they would be up off the ground.

Yeah. I caught my labradoodle licking a toad one evening years ago. I flushed his mouth out with the garden hose.

I don't think they can get into my chicken run since I have 1/2" mesh around the lower 3'. We've seen evidence of them closer to where we have drips running for plants -- their poos can be the size of a pinky finger.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yeah. I caught my labradoodle licking a toad one evening years ago. I flushed his mouth out with the garden hose.

I don't think they can get into my chicken run since I have 1/2" mesh around the lower 3'. We've seen evidence of them closer to where we have drips running for plants -- their poos can be the size of a pinky finger.

I'm pretty sure that those toad's live in the ground so they can dig under your run. Do you keep lights in or near your run at night? They are attracted to the light's because that's where the bugs will be at.

 

[Happy Novogens]

On a separate note, I finally braved letting the pullets out of their run... about half hour before sunset so I wouldn't have to watch them so long, lol.

 

[Happy Novogens]

I'm pretty sure that those toad's live in the ground so they can dig under your run. Do you keep lights in or near your run at night? They are attracted to the light's because that's where the bugs will be at.

Yes, they've burrowed under our front porch a little. Then a rattlesnake took over their burrow!

Hopefully they won't dig under our run because I have the mesh skirted out a foot around the perimeter. The ground there is also quite dry and hard.

 

[BlueBaby]

I'm watching the sky. A bunch of cloud's are moving in from the southwest.

 

[Happy Novogens]

I'm watching the sky. A bunch of cloud's are moving in from the southwest.

Hopefully you'll get some rain.

It's been on & off cloudy here but doesn't look like any rain possibility. Speaking of weather reminds me I should get back outside & take advantage of these cooler temps.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hopefully you'll get some rain.

It's been on & off cloudy here but doesn't look like any rain possibility. I should get back outside & take advantage of these cooler temps.

I did get a little yesterday. It wasn't a hard downpour though. It was nice and steady for a bit, but not quite enough for me to test out those new Slogger's that I bought last month though.